JP5293228B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium and a support mechanism for a guide member in the recording apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium has a guide that guides the recording medium at the time of conveyance, and the guide is movable in accordance with the width of the recording medium (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
JP 2004-161443 A

As in the above conventional recording apparatus, stable conveyance can be realized by moving the guide according to the size of the recording medium, but if this guide moves easily, it will not only serve as a guide. It can also be an obstacle to transportation. In particular, in a configuration in which the guide is exposed to the outside of the apparatus, there is a concern that the guide may move due to any obstacle or a user's finger hitting the guide, and a configuration that can securely fix the guide is desired. On the other hand, if the guide fixing operation is complicated, there is a concern that the operability is lowered.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. A recording apparatus capable of easily moving a guide for guiding a recording medium according to the size of the recording medium and easily fixing the guide, and recording It is an object of the present invention to provide a support mechanism for a guide member in an apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, a discharge port that discharges the recording medium recorded by the recording unit, and the recording medium that is discharged from the discharge port. A guide member having a guide surface for guiding, a first guide member for regulating the position of one end of the recording medium guided by the guide surface, and the other in the first direction with respect to the one end of the recording medium. A second guide member for regulating the position of the end portion, a first slide member having a first plate-like portion extending in the first direction and supporting the first guide member, and the first A second slide member that has a second plate-like portion extending in the direction of and supports the second guide member, and the first guide member and the second guide member are connected to the first guide member. A support mechanism that moves in the direction overlaps the first slide member and the second slide member A leaf spring that presses and fixes the first slide member and the second slide member at a matching position and a displacement of the leaf spring to release the fixation of the first slide member and the second slide member The first plate-like portion and the second plate-like portion overlap each other in the discharge direction of the recording medium, and the first plate-like portion is the second plate-like portion. A projecting portion that faces and contacts the plate-like portion, and the first plate-like portion and the second plate-like portion are pressed and brought into close contact with each other by the elasticity of the leaf spring. A recording device is provided.
According to this configuration, the guide for guiding the recording medium discharged from the discharge port is supported so as to be movable on the guide surface, the guide member is fixed at a predetermined position, and is further exposed from the notch portion of the guide surface. The guide member can be fixed by operating the pressing member. For this reason, the position of the pair of guide members that regulate the position in the width direction of the recording medium can be fixed by a simple operation, and can be released after being fixed, so that it can be moved according to the width of the recording medium to be used. The guide member can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, since the overlapping slide members are pressed and fixed so as not to slide, the guide member can be fixed with high accuracy and reliability without causing rattling.

In the above configuration, the first slide member has a first plate-like portion extending in the first direction, and the second slide member is a second plate-like portion extending in the first direction. The first plate-like portion and the second plate-like portion overlap each other in the recording medium discharge direction, and the first plate-like portion is the second plate-like portion. It is good also as a structure which provides the protrusion part which faces and contacts .
In this case, when the slide member is pressed at a position where the pair of slide members overlap, the slide member is strongly held by the pressing force transmitted through the protrusion. Thereby, the guide member can be reliably fixed by a simple operation of moving the pressing member.

In the above-described configuration, the pressing member may be a leaf spring , and may be pressed and brought into close contact with the first plate-like portion and the second plate-like portion by the elasticity of the leaf spring .
In this case, since the slide member is pressed using the elasticity of the leaf spring, the guide member can be securely fixed, the pressing force applied to the slide member can be suppressed to an appropriate strength, and the load on the slide member can be reduced. Can be reduced. As a result, the life of the slide member can be extended, and further, downsizing and cost reduction can be achieved as the strength standard required for the slide member is relaxed.

Further, in the above configuration, the first slide member and the second slide member may slide symmetrically with respect to the center of the guide surface.
In this case, the guide member that moves symmetrically on the guide surface and regulates the position in the width direction of the recording medium can be fixed by a simple operation, and further fixed.
Still further, in the above-described configuration, a recording medium accommodating portion that accommodates the recording medium, a conveying path that conveys the recording medium accommodated in the accommodating portion to the discharge port, and the recording medium disposed in the conveying path. A third guide member that regulates the position of one end of the medium; and a fourth guide member that is disposed in the transport path and regulates the position of the other end of the recording medium. The guide member and the fourth guide member may be configured to restrict the recording medium so as to be positioned at the center in the first direction of the transport path .
In this case, since the position in the width direction of the recording medium is regulated to match the center of the conveyance path in the main body and the guide surface of the discharge port, the recording medium can be smoothly conveyed.

The present invention also provides a first slide that supports a first guide member that is disposed on a guide surface of a guide member that guides the recording medium discharged from the discharge port and regulates the position of one end of the recording medium. A second slide member that supports the second guide member that restricts the position of the other end portion in the first direction with respect to the one end portion of the recording medium, the first guide member, and the first guide member The operation unit that moves the second guide member in the first direction, and the first slide member and the second slide member are pressed at a position where the first slide member and the second slide member overlap each other. And a pressing member that is fixed, and an operation unit that displaces the pressing member and releases the fixing of the first slide member and the second slide member. A support mechanism is provided.
According to this configuration, the guide for guiding the recording medium discharged from the discharge port of the recording apparatus is supported so as to be movable on the guide surface, the guide member is fixed at a predetermined position, and the notch portion of the guide surface is further provided. By operating the pressing member exposed from the guide member, the guide member can be fixed. For this reason, the position of the pair of guide members that regulate the position in the width direction of the recording medium can be fixed by a simple operation, and can be released after being fixed, so that it can be moved according to the width of the recording medium to be used. The guide member can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, since the overlapping slide members are pressed and fixed so as not to slide, the guide member can be fixed with high accuracy and reliability without causing rattling.

  According to the present invention, the position of the pair of guide members that regulate the position in the width direction of the recording medium discharged from the discharge port can be fixed by a simple operation, and can be moved by releasing the fixing. The guide member can be easily adjusted according to the width of the recording medium to be used.

Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink jet printer 1. In FIG. 2, the transport path P of the roll paper 100 is shown as a virtual line.
An ink jet printer 1 (hereinafter referred to as a printer 1) as a recording apparatus uses a roll paper 100 in which a sheet of paper or a synthetic resin is wound in a roll shape as a recording medium, and ejects ink on the surface of the roll paper 100 to adhere to the roll paper 100. By doing so, the printer prints (records) an image including characters. The sheet constituting the roll paper 100 may be a sheet whose surface is coated with a synthetic resin or the like, or may be a sheet in which a label sheet having glue on the back surface is superimposed on a release sheet. In the present embodiment, a case where a roll paper 100 of label paper is used in the printer 1 will be described as an example.
The printer 1 records an image on the roll paper 100 and then discharges it from a discharge port 25 provided on the front surface of the printer 1. A cutter unit 80 (FIG. 2) is provided in front of the discharge port 25 of the printer 1, the roll paper 100 is cut into a specified length by the cutter unit 80, and the section is discharged from the discharge port 25. . Therefore, the printer 1 can print out a label piece obtained by cutting the label sheet into a specified length.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 has a substantially box-shaped main body 10. The upper surface of the main body 10 is covered with an upper surface panel 11, side panels 12 are disposed on the left and right side surfaces of the main body 10, and a rear panel 14 (FIG. 2) is disposed on the rear surface of the main body 10 perpendicular to the installation surface. Has been. A rear upper panel 15 is disposed at the upper rear end of the main body 10 so as to straddle the upper surface and the rear surface. In addition, a front upper panel 13 is disposed at an upper portion of the front surface of the main body 10, and an ink cartridge housing door 16 and a roll paper cover 20 are disposed side by side on the lower side of the front upper panel 13.

  The ink cartridge storage door 16 is a door whose lower end is attached to the main body 10 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge (not shown), and a storage portion for storing an ink cartridge (not shown) inside the ink cartridge storage door 16. Is provided. The ink cartridge housing door 16 can be opened to load and replace the ink cartridge. A protrusion 17 is provided at the upper end of the ink cartridge housing door 16 so that the user can put his / her finger when opening and closing, and a transparent window 18 for visually confirming the loaded state of the ink cartridge is provided at the lower part.

The roll paper cover 20 (open / close cover) is a cover that can be opened and closed by rotating forward about the lower end portion. By opening the roll paper cover 20, the roll paper cover 20 is a space in which the roll paper 100 is accommodated. The roll paper storage unit 10a (FIG. 2) as a recording medium storage unit is exposed, and the roll paper 100 can be loaded and replaced from the front of the printer 1.
A discharge port 25 is opened at the upper end of the roll paper cover 20, that is, at a location corresponding to the boundary between the roll paper cover 20 and the front upper panel 13. The discharge port 25 is an elongated opening extending in the width direction of the roll paper 100, and a discharge port paper guide 26 (guide member) connected to the lower end of the discharge port 25 is attached to the roll paper cover 20. The discharge port paper guide 26 is a pair of a slope (guide surface) that supports the roll paper 100 discharged from the discharge port 25 from below and an upper end portion of the slope to guide the roll paper 100 from the width direction. And paper width guides 27a and 27b (guide members). The paper width guides 27 a and 27 b guide the discharge port paper guide 26 by regulating the position in the width direction of the roll paper 100.

  Below the discharge port paper guide 26, a discharge tray 30 (external member) that receives the roll paper 100 that has descended along the discharge port paper guide 26 is provided. The discharge tray 30 is positioned below the discharge port paper guide 26 and includes a discharge tray main body 31 that forms a receiving portion 32 that accommodates the roll paper 100, and a slide member 41 that is slidably attached to the discharge tray main body 31. And comprising. An engagement pin 35 (hinge) is provided on the upper portion of the discharge tray main body 31, and the engagement pin 35 engages with a bearing (not shown) provided on the roll paper cover 20. The discharge tray 30 is attached to the front surface of the roll paper cover 20 via an engagement pin 35 so as to be rotatable.

The receiving portion 32 of the discharge tray main body 31 is a space surrounded by a downward inclined surface, a pair of side walls 33 erected on both side ends of the inclined surface, and a paper stopper plate 42 in the same manner as the discharge opening paper guide 26. . The lower end of the slide member 41 is a paper stopper plate 42 that is positioned at the lower end of the receiving portion 32 and prevents the roll paper 100 from falling. By sliding the slide member 41 with respect to the discharge tray main body 31, the paper stopper plate 42 can be moved and the length of the receiving portion 32 can be changed.
As described above, the section of the roll paper 100 cut by the cutter unit 80 is discharged from the discharge port 25. This section descends along the slope of the discharge port paper guide 26 and falls to the receiving portion 32. Here, the section of the roll paper 100 may rotate when falling from the lower end of the inclined surface of the discharge port paper guide 26 to the receiving portion 32. When the length of the receiving portion 32 is adjusted to an appropriate length, The sections of the paper 100 are accumulated in the receiving unit 32 without being turned over. In this case, since the section of the roll paper 100 is not turned over and the surface on which the image is printed faces upward, the printed image can be visually recognized with the section accumulated in the receiving portion 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tip 43 a of the slide member 41 contacts the front surface of the roll paper cover 20 when the slide member 41 is slid to the main body 10 most. When the slide member 41 is pulled forward from the discharge tray main body 31, the tip 43 a is separated from the front surface of the roll paper cover 20, and the main body side inclined surface 36 of the discharge tray main body 31 is in contact with the front surface of the roll paper cover 20.
Here, the angle of the paper accumulation surface 34 with respect to the installation surface of the printer 1 is small when the tip 43 a is in contact with the roll paper cover 20, and is slightly large when the main body-side inclined surface 36 is in contact with the roll paper cover 20. Become.
That is, in the state in which the paper stopper plate 42 is located above, the angle of the paper accumulation surface 34 is reduced by the tip 43a hitting the roll paper cover 20. This state is suitable for receiving a section of the roll paper 100 cut with a short length. Since the paper stopper plate 42 is close to the discharge port 25 and the angle of the paper accumulation surface 34 is small, there is an advantage that the section of the roll paper 100 does not turn over or protrude from the receiving portion 32.
On the other hand, when the slide member 41 is pulled out downward, the leading end 43a is separated from the roll paper cover 20, and the angle of the paper accumulation surface 34 becomes steep. This state is suitable when a long section of the roll paper 100 is received because the receiving portion 32 is long. Since the paper accumulation surface 34 has a steep angle, there is an advantage that a long section is not clogged in the vicinity of the discharge port 25 and can be surely dropped to the position of the paper stopper plate 42.
Thus, the discharge tray 30 has a configuration in which the angle of the paper accumulation surface 34 is automatically changed by sliding the slide member 41 to change the length of the receiving portion 32.

  The lower end of the roll paper cover 20 is rotatably supported by the main body 10 of the printer 1 around the hinge portion 23 (FIG. 2), and can be opened so that the upper end of the roll paper cover 20 rotates downward. . The roll paper cover 20 is held in a closed state by a lock mechanism (not shown) so as not to be opened during normal operation. By operating the release lever 22 provided at the upper end of the roll paper cover 20, the lock mechanism is released and the roll paper cover 20 can be opened.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 10 of the printer 1 has a frame including a bottom frame 51, a rear frame 52, and an upper frame 53. The bottom frame 51 is a plate-like frame that supports the lower portion of the printer 1, and a plurality of legs 54 that are in contact with the installation surface are fixed to the bottom frame 51. The rear frame 52 is erected on the bottom frame 51, and an upper frame 53 is fixed to the upper portion of the rear frame 52. A control board 55 on which various control circuits for controlling the printer 1 are mounted is supported on the back side of the rear frame 52.
The roll paper storage unit 10a for storing the roll paper 100 is a space secured between the bottom frame 51 and the upper frame 53, and the bottom of the roll paper storage unit 10a has a roll paper support roller 61 and a roll paper support. A bar 62 is provided. The roll paper support roller 61 is a roller rotatably attached to the frame of the main body 10 and supports the roll paper 100 from below so that the roll paper 100 can be easily rotated together with the roll paper support bar 62. . In addition, roll paper pressers 63 that stabilize the roll paper 100 in contact with the side faces of the roll paper 100 are disposed on the left and right side surfaces of the roll paper storage unit 10a.
Further, a roll paper guide 62 a (internal guide member) is inserted through the roll paper support bar 62. The roll paper guides 62 a are provided in a pair of left and right in the roll paper storage unit 10 a and can move along the roll paper support bar 62 according to the width of the roll paper 100. The roll paper guide 62a regulates the position in the width direction of the roll paper 100 so as to be aligned with the center in the width direction of the transport path P, thereby realizing stable transport of the roll paper 100.

The roll paper 100 stored in the roll paper storage unit 10a is drawn upward. A first transport roller 64 and a second transport roller 65 are arranged to face each other on the upper side of the roll paper storage unit 10a, and are transported upward with the drawn roll paper 100 interposed therebetween. The first transport roller 64 is driven by a transport motor (not shown), and the second transport roller 65 is a driven roller that follows the rotation of the first transport roller 64.
A paper guide 69 that guides the roll paper 100 forward is provided above the first transport roller 64 and the second transport roller 65, and a third transport roller 66 is disposed facing the paper guide 69. The third transport roller 66 is driven by the above-described transport motor (not shown) and transports the roll paper 100 forward.

A paper support unit 60 is disposed in front of the paper guide 69. The paper support unit 60 is supported by the upper frame 53 and includes various units that perform a series of processes from recording an image on the roll paper 100 to discharging it from the discharge port 25.
The paper support unit 60 includes a fourth transport roller 67 and a fifth transport roller 68 that transport the roll paper 100 transported forward by the third transport roller 66, a platen 71 that supports the roll paper 100 from below, and the platen A recording head 70 that records an image by ejecting ink onto the roll paper 100 from above 71, and a cutter unit 80 that cuts the roll paper 100 on which an image is recorded by the recording head 70 are provided.

The fourth transport roller 67 is positioned above the transport path P, and the fifth transport roller 68 is positioned below the transport path P of the roll paper 100 and is disposed facing each other. The fifth conveyance roller 68 is driven by the above-described conveyance motor (not shown), and the fourth conveyance roller 67 is a driven roller that follows the fifth conveyance roller 68.
A guide shaft 72 extending in the width direction of the main body 10 is provided above the fourth transport roller 67 and the fifth transport roller 68, and the recording head 70 is a head drive motor (not shown) along the guide shaft 72. By this operation, the roll paper 100 is reciprocally scanned in the width direction. Since the recording head 70 is normally in a retracted position provided on the ink cartridge housing door 16 (FIG. 1) side, it is indicated by a virtual line in FIG.

The recording head 70 is an ink jet recording head that records an image by ejecting ink onto the surface of the roll paper 100. Specifically, the ink supplied from the ink cartridge (not shown) stored in the back of the ink cartridge storage door 16 via the ink supply pipe 73 is discharged from the ejection port by an ejection mechanism using a piezoelectric element, for example. Inject to 100.
The roll paper 100 that has passed between the recording head 70 and the platen 71 is conveyed forward along the conveyance path P by the conveyance force of the fourth conveyance roller 67 and the fifth conveyance roller 68, and the position of the cutter unit 80. To.

The cutter unit 80 (cutter unit) includes a fixed blade 81 embedded and installed below the transport path P, and a movable blade 82 installed above the transport path P so as to slide on the fixed blade 81. The roll paper 100 is sandwiched between the fixed blade 81 and the movable blade 82, and the label paper of the roll paper 100 is cut together with the release paper. The movable blade 82 is provided with a cutter drive motor 83 and a cutter drive roller 84 that moves the movable blade 82 up and down by the rotational force of the cutter drive motor 83, and the operation of the cutter drive motor 83 and the cutter drive roller 84. As a result, the roll paper 100 is cut.
When the roll paper 100 is cut by the cutter unit 80 and the leading edge of the roll paper 100 is out of the discharge port 25, the section of the cut roll paper 100 is cut by the weight of this portion. The paper falls along the discharge paper guide 26.

A control circuit mounted on the control board 55 drives a conveyance motor (not shown), a head drive motor (not shown), an ejection mechanism of the recording head 70, and a cutter drive motor 83 included in the printer 1 to roll paper. A series of operations relating to conveyance of 100, recording of an image on the roll paper 100, and cutting of the roll paper 100 are executed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a power switch 91 for switching on / off the power of the printer 1 is disposed below the ink cartridge housing door 16, and a cutter unit 80 (FIG. 2) is provided on the front upper panel 13. A cut button 92 for cutting the roll paper 100 and a feed button 93 for conveying the roll paper 100 by a desired amount are arranged.
The control circuit mounted on the control board 55 starts operation by turning on the power according to the operation of the power switch 91, and transmits / receives data and control signals to / from a host computer or the like externally connected to the printer 1, An image is recorded on the roll paper 100 according to the control of the host computer or the like. Further, when the cut button 92 is operated, the control circuit operates the cutter drive motor 83 separately from the cutting operation instructed by the host computer or the like, and when the feed button 93 is pressed, the control circuit performs the transport operation instructed by the host computer or the like. Separately, the transport motor (not shown) is operated while the feed button 93 is pressed.
Further, an indicator 94 is provided on the front surface of the printer 1 as shown in FIG. The indicator 94 includes a plurality of LEDs, and the control circuit mounted on the control board 55 switches the lighting state of the plurality of LEDs of the indicator 94 to lighting, blinking, extinguishing, etc. Various messages such as guidance for ink cartridge replacement are displayed and output.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the roll paper cover 20 is opened in the printer 1.
When the roll paper cover 20 of the printer 1 is unlocked by the operation of the release lever 22, the roll paper cover 20 is rotated forward about its lower end portion and opened as shown in FIG. In the open state of FIG. 3, together with the roll paper cover 20, the second transport roller 65, the fifth transport roller 68, the paper guide 69, the platen 71, and the like protrude forward, and the roll paper storage portion 10a is exposed.
When the roll paper 100 is loaded, the roll paper 100 is put into the roll paper container 10a in the open state of FIG. 3, the leading end of the roll paper 100 is pulled out and placed on the fifth transport roller 68 and the platen 71, and the roll The paper cover 20 is closed. Here, when the roll paper cover 20 is closed, the roll paper 100 is transferred between the platen 71 and the recording head 70, between the fifth transport roller 68 and the fourth transport roller 67, and between the paper guide 69 and the third transport roller. 66 and between the second transport roller 65 and the first transport roller 64. Therefore, in the printer 1, the roll paper 100 can be easily moved along the conveyance path P of FIG. 2 simply by inserting the roll paper 100 into the roll paper container 10 a with the leading end pulled out and closing the roll paper cover 20. Can be set.

  In the open state shown in FIG. 3, the roll paper cover 20 rotates so as to fall forward, so that the discharge tray 30 attached to the roll paper cover 20 contacts the installation surface of the printer 1. Here, the discharge tray 30 can be easily rotated even after hitting the installation surface of the printer 1 so as not to obstruct the opening operation of the roll paper cover 20.

4 and 5 are enlarged plan views of the vicinity of the discharge port 25. FIG.
As described above, the discharge port paper guide 26 is provided with a pair of left and right paper width guides 27a and 27b. Both the paper width guide 27a and the paper width guide 27b located on the right side of the printer 1 are provided with the discharge port paper guide. 26, the roll paper 100 can be moved in the width direction. Grooves 28 for moving the paper width guides 27 a and 27 b extend in the width direction of the roll paper 100 on the slope of the discharge port paper guide 26. In the paper outlet guide 26, a paper guide plate 29 is disposed between the pair of paper width guides 27a and 27b so as to straddle the groove 28, and the roll paper 100 is discharged on the paper guide plate 29. .

The paper width guides 27a and 27b can move on the discharge port paper guide 26 in accordance with the width of the roll paper 100, and can also move to the side end of the discharge port paper guide 26 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
The paper width guides 27a and 27b are supported so as to move symmetrically by the operation of the support mechanism accommodated in the discharge port paper guide 26. When one of the paper width guides 27a and 27b is moved, the other is interlocked. Also move.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the structure of the support mechanism for the paper width guides 27a and 27b, and is a view of the discharge port paper guide 26 as seen from the lower surface (back surface) side. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the main part of the support mechanism for the paper width guides 27a and 27b, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the vicinity of the discharge port 25. 7 and 8 show a state in which the fixing of the paper width guides 27a and 27b is released.
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the discharge port 25 includes a frame 212 and a discharge port attached to the frame 212 inside the discharge port paper guide 26 that forms a surface for guiding the roll paper 100. And a base 211 constituting the bottom of the paper guide 26. The frame 212 is fixed to the frame of the main body 10 constituting the paper support unit 60 (FIG. 2) by screws 213, and the discharge port paper guide 26 is supported by the frame 212.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a slide member 220 that supports the paper width guide 27 a and a slide member 230 that supports the paper width guide 27 b are accommodated in the discharge port paper guide 26. The slide member 220 includes an arm 222 and a wall portion 223 that extend in parallel to each other in the width direction of the roll paper 100. The arm 222 is a flat plate-like member parallel to the inclined surface of the discharge port paper guide 26, and a rack 221 is formed on one long side. The wall portion 223 is a flat plate-like member that is vertical when the printer 1 is installed.
The slide member 230 includes an arm 232 and a wall portion 233 extending in parallel with each other in the width direction of the roll paper 100. The arm 232 is a flat plate member parallel to the inclined surface of the discharge port paper guide 26, and has one long side. A rack 231 is formed in the rack. The wall portion 233 is a flat plate-like member that is vertical when the printer 1 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slide member 220 is connected to the paper width guide 27 a via connecting portions 226 and 227. The connecting portion 226 passes through the upper groove 28 and connects the paper width guide 27 a positioned on the front side of the discharge port paper guide 26 and the slide member 220 positioned inside the discharge port paper guide 26. Further, the connecting portion 227 passes through the lower groove 28 and connects the paper width guide 27 a and the slide member 220. For this reason, the slide member 220 is integrally coupled to the paper width guide 27a, and passes through the groove 28 of the discharge port paper guide 26. Therefore, the slide member 220 moves along the groove 28 with respect to the discharge port paper guide 26. It is free.
The slide member 230 is connected to the paper width guide 27b via the connecting portions 236 and 237. The connecting portion 236 passes through the upper groove 28 and connects the paper width guide 27b and the slide member 230. The connecting portion 237 passes through the lower groove 28 and connects the paper width guide 27b and the slide member 230. To do. For this reason, the slide member 230 is integrally coupled with the paper width guide 27b, and passes through the groove 28 of the discharge port paper guide 26. Therefore, the slide member 230 moves along the groove 28 with respect to the discharge port paper guide 26. It is free.

As shown in FIG. 7, the arm 222 is positioned below the arm 232, and the rack 221 and the rack 231 are formed at positions facing each other. A central gear 240 is disposed between the arm 222 and the arm 232.
The central gear 240 is rotatably attached to the back side of the discharge port paper guide 26 by screws 242 (FIGS. 6 and 8). A gear 241 is formed around the disk constituting the central gear 240, and the gear 241 meshes with the rack 221 and the rack 231.
As described above, the slide members 220 and 230 can move along the groove 28, and the central gear 240 rotates when the slide members 220 and 230 move. Further, when one of the slide members 220 and 230 moves, the other slide member moves in the opposite direction via the central gear 240.

For example, when the paper width guide 27a is moved toward the center of the discharge port paper guide 26 in the state shown in FIG. 7, the slide member 220 is moved together with the paper width guide 27a, and the central gear 240 is rotated. The rotation direction at this time is clockwise in FIG. Here, as the central gear 240 rotates, the rack 231 meshing with the gear 241 is driven, and the slide member 230 moves in the right direction in FIG. That is, when the paper width guide 27a is moved to the central gear 240 side, the paper width guide 27b is also moved to the central gear 240 side along with this movement. The reverse is also true, and when the paper width guide 27a is moved away from the central gear 240, the paper width guide 27b is also moved away from the central gear 240. Similarly, when the paper width guide 27b is moved, the paper width guide 27a moves in conjunction with the paper width guide 27b.
As described above, when one of the paper width guides 27 a and 27 b is moved, the other is moved in conjunction with the other, and moves symmetrically with respect to the central gear 240. Therefore, by moving the paper width guides 27a and 27b according to the width of the roll paper 100, the position of the roll paper 100 is regulated by the paper width guides 27a and 27b to the center position in the width direction of the discharge port paper guide 26. The center of the roll paper 100 in the width direction always overlaps the center of the discharge port paper guide 26 (that is, the position of the screw 242).

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a leaf spring 260 penetrating the frame 212 is disposed at the center in the width direction of the discharge port paper guide 26, and the pusher 250 as a pressing member is supported by the leaf spring 260. Has been. The plate spring 260 is formed by bending a metal plate having a predetermined elasticity, and is formed with a horizontal portion 261 formed on a horizontal plane, a support portion 262 rising at one end of the horizontal portion 261, and an engagement portion rising at the other end. 263 and a substantially U-shaped cross section.
The horizontal portion 261 is disposed below the frame 212 along the bottom surface of the frame 212, and the support portion 262 and the engaging portion 263 extend upward through the bottom surface of the frame 212.

  On the bottom surface of the frame 212, a wall portion 223 and a wall portion 233 as a plate-like portion are sandwiched between the support portion 262 and the engaging portion 263. The wall portion 223 faces the support portion 262, and the wall portion 233 overlaps the wall portion 223. Further, a pressing leaf spring 255 that contacts the wall portion 233 is accommodated between the support portion 262 and the engaging portion 263. The pressing leaf spring 255 is a leaf spring that is bent into a substantially V shape, and has a pointed end in contact with one surface of the wall portion 233. The pressing leaf spring 255 is displaced in accordance with the operation of the pressing member 250 described later, and presses the wall portion 233 toward the wall portion 223.

  The pressing element 250 is arranged at the center in the width direction of the discharge port paper guide 26, and protrudes below the discharge port paper guide 26 with an engagement portion 251 fitted between the engagement portion 263 and the pressing leaf spring 255. It is a member which has the operation protrusion 252 (operation part) to perform. The engaging portion 251 enters between the concave portion formed in the engaging portion 263 and the pressing leaf spring 255 and is supported rotatably in this space. The pressing element 250 holds the engaging portion 251. Rotates as the center.

  As described above, the support mechanism for the paper width guides 27a and 27b includes the frame 212, the slide members 220 and 230 connected to the paper width guides 27a and 27b, the central gear 240, the pressing element 250, and the leaf spring 260. The support mechanism may include connecting portions 226, 227, 236, 237, coil springs 228, 238, and a base 211.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a main part configuration of a support mechanism for the paper width guides 27a and 27b, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the vicinity of the discharge port 25, and FIGS. The state which fixed 27b is shown.
When the pressing element 250 rotates clockwise in the figure in the state shown in FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 10, the engaging portion 251 becomes almost horizontal, and the wall portion 233 is moved to the wall portion via the pressing leaf spring 255. Press toward 223. In this state, the wall portion 233 and the wall portion 223 are pressed against the support portion 262 by the pressing leaf spring 255 and are not easily slipped.

On the wall 233, an upper rib 234 and a lower rib 235 are formed on the wall 223 side as protrusions extending in the longitudinal direction of the wall 233. Further, an upper rib 224 and a lower rib 225 are formed on the surface of the wall portion 223 on the support portion 262 side as projecting portions extending in the longitudinal direction of the wall portion 223.
For this reason, when the pressing leaf spring 255 is displaced to press the wall portion 233, the wall portions 233 and 223 and the support portion 262 are pressed against each other via the upper ribs 234 and 224 and the lower ribs 235 and 225. Since the friction is increased by concentrating the pressure in these pressure contact portions, the wall portion 233 and the wall portion 223 are fixed so as not to slide along the groove 28.
That is, in the state shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the slide members 220 and 230 are locked so as not to slide.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the slide members 220 and 230 are locked, the operation protrusion 252 of the presser 250 enters the notch 26 a formed at the center in the width direction of the discharge port paper guide 26. As shown in FIG. 4, since the notch 26a is exposed on the front surface of the printer 1, the operation protrusion 252 can be pressed by a jig that can enter the notch 26a.
Then, when the operation protrusion 252 is pressed in the state shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pressing element 250 rotates around the engaging portion 251 to be in the state shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this state, the pressing force by the pressing leaf spring 255 is released, and the slide member 220 and the slide member 230 are slidable with respect to each other. In order to operate the operation protrusion 252 again to lock the slide members 220 and 230, an operation of pushing up the operation protrusion 252 may be performed. As shown in FIG. 8, in the state where the slide members 220 and 230 are unlocked, the operation protrusion 252 protrudes below the discharge port paper guide 26, and therefore, the operation of pushing up the operation protrusion 252 is easy.

As described above, according to the printer 1 according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the roll paper 100 discharged from the discharge port 25 is guided in the printer 1 that records an image on the roll paper 100 and discharges the image from the discharge port 25. The paper outlet guide 26, the pair of paper width guides 27a and 27b for regulating the position of the roll paper 100 in the width direction on the paper outlet guide 26, and the pair of paper width guides 27a and 27b in the width direction of the roll paper 100. A support mechanism that is movably supported and fixed at a predetermined position. The support mechanism includes a pair of slide members 220 and 230 that slide with each of the pair of paper width guides 27a and 27b, and a pair of slide members 220 and 230. A presser 250 that presses the wall portions 223 and 233 at a position where the wall portions 223 and 233 overlap with each other. 26a is provided, and the operation protrusion 252 of the presser 250 is exposed from the notch 26a. When the operation protrusion 252 is operated, the presser 250 is displaced, and the paper width guides 27a and 27b are fixed by the support mechanism. Is released. Accordingly, the paper width guides 27a and 27b can be fixed by operating the operation protrusion 252 of the pressing member 250 exposed from the notch 26a. For this reason, the positions of the paper width guides 27a and 27b can be fixed by a simple operation, and can be moved after being released from the fixing. Therefore, the paper width guides 27a and 27b can be easily adjusted to the width of the roll paper 100 to be used. Can be adjusted.
The operation protrusion 252 can be easily operated from the notch 26a. However, the operation protrusion 252 does not move easily unless a tool or jig that enters the notch 26a is used. However, the operation projection 252 is not accidentally operated to unlock the slide members 220 and 230. For this reason, when necessary, it is possible to easily release the lock, and it is possible to realize a convenient configuration in which the lock is not released carelessly.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the roll paper 100 can be easily loaded and replaced simply by opening the roll paper cover 20 and loading the roll paper 100. Can be determined with certainty. For this reason, skew feeding of the roll paper 100 can be prevented, and the label paper can be stably conveyed and printed out.

  In addition, the slide members 220 and 230 are fixed by friction by pressing the wall portions 223 and 233 with the pressing plate spring 255 at the position where the wall portions 223 and 233 overlap with each other. 230 can be fixed. For example, it is possible to fix the slide members 220 and 230 so as not to move by restricting the rotation of the central gear 240 using the racks 221 and 231, but in this case, depending on the play of the gear meshing As a result, backlash may occur, and the paper width guides 27a and 27b may move from the operating position of the presser 250. It is also conceivable that the amount of play of the gear meshing will be loose. If the two wall portions 223 and 233 are pressed and fixed by friction as in the present embodiment, the slide members 220 and 230 are fixed at the position where the presser 250 is operated. The paper width guides 27a and 27b can be fixed by positioning with high accuracy at a desired position without being influenced by the above.

In addition, the wall portions 223 and 233 of the slide members 220 and 230 overlap in the discharge direction of the roll paper 100, and the wall portions 223 and 233 are provided with upper ribs 224 and 234 and lower ribs 225 and 235, respectively. Therefore, strong friction is generated between the slide members 220 and 230 by the pressing force transmitted through the pressing element 250, so that the paper width guide 27a can be reliably fixed.
Further, in a state where the pressing member 250 is rotated and the slide members 220 and 230 are locked, the wall portions 223 and 233 are fixed by elasticity acting between the support portion 262 and the engaging portion 263 of the leaf spring 260. The That is, when the pressing element 250 rotates, the engaging portion 251 moves so as to widen the space between the engaging portion 263 and the wall portion 233 and presses the wall portions 233 and 223 toward the support portion 262. Accordingly, the engaging portion 251 and the wall portions 223 and 233 are sandwiched and fixed between the support portion 262 and the engaging portion 263. Therefore, the slide members 220 and 230 can be securely fixed, the paper width guides 27a and 27b can be fixed, and the pressing force applied to the slide members 220 and 230 can be suppressed to an appropriate strength. Can reduce the load. Further, since the engaging portion 251 contacts the wall portion 233 via the pressing leaf spring 255, the elasticity of the pressing leaf spring 255 is relaxed so that no force is suddenly applied to the wall portions 233 and 223. As a result, the life of the slide members 220 and 230 can be extended, and further, downsizing and cost reduction can be achieved as the strength standards required for the slide members 220 and 230 are relaxed. .

  Further, since the pair of slide members 220 and 230 slide symmetrically with respect to the center of the discharge port paper guide 26, the paper width guides 27a and 27b can be fixed and released by a simple operation. Further, since the position in the width direction of the roll paper 100 is regulated so that the position in the width direction of the roll paper 100 is aligned with the center of the transport path P, smooth transport of the roll paper 100 can be realized. Further, since the roll paper 100 is regulated so as to be positioned at the center of the transport path P by the roll paper guide 62a inside the main body 10, more smooth transport of the roll paper 100 can be realized.

In addition, the said embodiment shows the one aspect | mode which applied this invention, Comprising: This invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, in each of the embodiments described above, the discharge port paper guide 26 is attached to the discharge port 25 provided on the front surface of the printer 1, and the paper width guides 27 a and 27 b are slidably disposed on the slope of the discharge port paper guide 26. Although the configuration has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and in a configuration in which the discharge port 25 is formed on the upper surface of the printer 1, a paper width guide 27 a that guides the roll paper 100 discharged from the discharge port 25. 27b may be provided on the upper surface or the front surface of the printer 1. In addition, the configuration in which the slide members 220 and 230 that support the paper width guides 27a and 27b are arranged on the back side of the discharge port paper guide 26 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The paper width guides 27a and 27b may be supported by a slide member exposed on the upper surface of the discharge port paper guide 26 or the like.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the wall portion 223 of the slide member 220 and the wall portion 233 of the slide member 230 that are vertically arranged on the back side of the discharge port paper guide 26 are pressed from the front by the pressing plate spring 255. Although the structure fixed by this was demonstrated, the wall parts 223 and 233 may be arrange | positioned horizontally and this wall parts 223 and 233 may be fixed by pressing from the upper direction or the downward direction. The specific shapes of the upper ribs 224 and 234 and the lower ribs 225 and 235 are also arbitrary.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the roll paper of the label paper is used as the recording medium has been described. However, the recording medium is not limited to the label paper, and a cut sheet or continuous sheet may be used. Furthermore, the recording medium may be an optical disc such as a CD or a DVD. Further, the printer 1 that discharges ink and records an image as an example of the recording apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention relates to a thermal printer that records an image on thermal roll paper using a thermal head, a dot impact printer, and thermal sublimation. The present invention can also be applied to various types of printers such as type printers and other electronic devices equipped with these printers as mechanism parts.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment. It is a sectional view of an ink jet printer. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the roll paper cover. It is a principal part enlarged plan view of the discharge port vicinity. It is a principal part enlarged plan view of the discharge port vicinity. It is a figure which shows the structure of the support mechanism of a paper width guide. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the structure of the support mechanism of a paper width guide. It is a principal part sectional view of the discharge port vicinity. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the structure of the support mechanism of a paper width guide. It is a principal part sectional view of the discharge port vicinity.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer (recording apparatus), 10 ... Main body, 25 ... Discharge port, 26 ... Discharge port paper guide (guide member), 26a ... Notch part, 27a, 27b ... Paper width guide (guide member), 28 ... Groove, 29 ... paper guide plate, 30 ... discharge tray, 60 ... paper support unit, 62a ... roll paper guide (internal guide member), 70 ... recording head, 100 ... roll paper (recording medium), 211 ... base, 212 ... frame, 213 ... screws, 220, 230 ... slide members, 221, 231 ... racks, 222, 232 ... arms, 223, 233 ... wall portions (plate-like portions), 224, 234 ... upper ribs (protruding portions), 225, 235 ... lower Side ribs (protrusions), 226, 227 ... connecting parts, 240 ... central gears, 241 ... gears, 242 ... screws, 250 ... pressers (pressing members), 251 ... engaging parts, 252 ... Create projections (operating unit), 261 ... horizontal section, 262 ... support portion, 263 ... engaging portion, P ... transport path.

Claims (3)

A recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium;
A discharge port for discharging the recording medium recorded by the recording unit;
A guide member having a guide surface for guiding the recording medium discharged from the discharge port;
A first guide member that regulates a position of one end of the recording medium guided by the guide surface;
A second guide member for regulating the position of the other end portion in the first direction with respect to the one end portion of the recording medium;
A first slide member that has a first plate-like portion extending in the first direction and supports the first guide member; and a second plate-like portion that extends in the first direction. A second slide member that supports the second guide member; a support mechanism that moves the first guide member and the second guide member in the first direction;
A leaf spring that presses and fixes the first slide member and the second slide member at a position where the first slide member and the second slide member overlap;
An operation unit that displaces the leaf spring to release the fixation of the first slide member and the second slide member , and
The first plate-like portion and the second plate-like portion are overlapped side by side in the discharge direction of the recording medium,
The first plate-like portion has a protrusion that faces and contacts the second plate-like portion,
The recording apparatus , wherein the first plate-like portion and the second plate-like portion are pressed and brought into close contact with each other by the elasticity of the leaf spring . The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first slide member and the second slide member slide symmetrically with respect to a center of the guide surface. A recording medium accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium;
A conveyance path for conveying the recording medium accommodated in the accommodation portion to the discharge port;
A third guide member that is disposed in the conveyance path and regulates the position of one end of the recording medium;
A fourth guide member disposed in the transport path and regulating the position of the other end of the recording medium,
The recording apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the third guide member and the fourth guide member regulate the recording medium so that the recording medium is positioned at a center in the first direction of the conveyance path.

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